County Commissioners’ support of 4-H appreciated

Saturday

Nov 17, 2012 at 3:15 AMNov 17, 2012 at 11:30 AM

DURHAM — Strafford County Commissioners George Maglaras, Catherine Cheney and Robert Watson received the “Friend of Strafford County 4-H” plaque at a recent awards ceremony of Strafford County 4-H members at the UNH Thompson School.

Commissioners Maglaras, Cheney and Watson were awarded the plaque for their support of UNH Cooperative Extension and through it, the Youth and Family program that runs the 4-H programming throughout the state.

The recently implemented UNH Cooperative Extension “Re-Extension” plan provided the local support to re-open the UNH Cooperative Extension office in Strafford County as well as the ability to hire a new 4-H program coordinator, Jillian Hall.

According to UNH Cooperative Extension Dean and Director John Pike, the reorganization accomplished several things to strengthen the existing partnerships.

“Re-Extension provides a more consistent and easily understood funding model, give counties the ability to share staff and potentially office space between more than one county and provides a high quality, more specialized staff working across the state in four broad areas; food and agriculture, natural resources, community and economic development and youth and families.”

Commissioner Watson served on the search committee for the 4-H program coordinator, and all three commissioners have taken an active and interested role in re-establishing Strafford County’s 4-H program.

4-H Youth Development in Strafford County supports and advises approximately one dozen community clubs and hosts educational events for 4-H and local community youth such as the recent fall nature walk at the Strafford County Complex and the Archery Open House in conjunction with the Strafford Hill Library, which took place in mid-October. Anyone interested in 4-H programming is invited to contact Hall at 603-516-8112 or by e-mail at jillian.hall@unh.edu.